Sole straightener



3 1931- A. D. MACGILLIVRAY 1,818,490

SOLE STRAIGH'ITENER Filed Feb. 8, 1930 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOLE STRAIGHTENER V Application filed February 8, 1930, Serial No. 426,893, and inGreat Britain January 1 5, 1930.

This invention relates to sole straighteners,

that is to say, to devices for preserving the shape of boots and shoes when they are not being worn.

An object of the invention is to provide an eflicient device for the said purpose which shall be cheap in construction, efficient in operation, and readily adjustable for use with soles of greatly varying sizes. Another object is to provide such a device comprising a metal body adapted to be attached outside and under the sole of the boot or shoe and so constructed as to keep the sole in a fiat condition when thus attached. Another object is to provide such a device which shall be'partly collapsible when not in use for convenience of storage or transport. Other objectsand'advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the device.

Figure2 is a plan of the device illustrated in Figure 1 in position for use.

' Figure 3 is a side elevation corresponding with'Figure 1 but representing the device in af collapsed condition. Figure 4 is a plan of the device in the conditionillustrated in Figure 3.

' Figure 5.is a planrepresenting a modified construction of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of another modification.

Figure 7 is a plan of the device illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan of a third example of construction.

Figure 9 is a section of the device illustrated in Figure 8, taken on the line 99 in Figure 8.

A metal body A, which may be stamped and bent out of a sheet of metal, or constructed of steel wire, is provided with arms D,

projecting beyond its periphery and terminating in means for engaging the edges of-the sole the extent of the said projection being adjustable, preferably by means of slotted 5 connections.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the body of the device A consists of an upwardly curved strip of spring metal, the front end of which is turned up to form an arcuate wall a the height of which is approximately that of the normal thickness of a boot sole, with a reverted flange a at the top thereof to fit over the front of the sole. Near the other end of the body A are four or other number of holes a in any one of which a stud or rivet C can be secured. Two overlapping arms 1), D are longitudinally slotted at d to engage this stud G, on which they are adjustable both laterally and angularly, so that they can be turned out in op posite directions, that is, to project at right angles from the body A, or at any other angle. At the free end of each arm (D, D is a hook or clip (E, E adapted to engage the edge of the boot sole. Whenthe hooks E, E are thus engaged with the sides of the sole, and the wall a engaged with the front of the sole, the. resilient pressure between the upper part of the curved body A and the sole tending to straighten out the curve of the body A causes the wall a to draw down the toe of the boot, thus counteracting any tendency of the sole to turn up at the toe. The distance be tween the two clips E, E canbe varied by niovingthe slotted parts of the arms relatively to thestud 0 within the limits of the slots (Z to fit on wide or narrow soles, and

eacliof the said arms can be swung about the studC to enable its clip to engage any de sired part within its reach of the length of the side of the sole. The provision of the holes a for the attachment of. the stud C enables the effective "length of the device to be adjusted according to the length of the sole-to which thedevice is to be applied. For storage or transport,the arms D, D can each 'be'pushed towards the body A so far as their slots 6Z2 permit, and placed in overlapping alignment with each other as represented in Figures 3 and 4. y

In the modification. illustratedin Figure 5, the body A is made of steel wire. The arms 1), D may also be made of steel'wire.

The body A as represented in Figures 6 and 7 comprises a narrow waist portion a which is doubly bent as seen clearly in Fig- 7 ure 6 to obtain the spring pressure on the straightening out of the body when the clips or hooks are engaged with the sole. The front of the body is provided with an integral hook a to clip over the front of the sole. At its rear end the body forms a crossbar a, in which are secured two studs C C on which arms D, D are laterally and angularly adjustable in the same way as that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. For storage or transit, the arms may either be turned back as seen in Figure 6, or turned forward to nestle between the crossbar and the main front portion of the body A.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, the body A is a flat disc. of metal pierced by at least three radial slots, F, G, H. Arms D, D D are each provided with a stud passing through the respective slots, on which stud the arm can swivel, and the stud is also adjustable longitudinally of the slot. It is. of course immaterial as to whether the studs (G, C C are on the arms and the slots in the body, or the studs are fixed in the body and the arms slotted to embrace the shanks of the studs. Each arm terminates in a hook, these books being indicated at E, E and E and each arm has: a doubly bent port-ion. d in order to cause the disc A to press against the sole when the said hooks are engaged with the edges of the sole. In use, the. hook E is. sprung over the front of, the sole and the hooks E and E are sprung over the edges of the sole at opposite sides thereof. When the device. is: not in use, each arm is pushed in as far as the slots. F, G, H permit, when the hooks E, E and E? will lie closely against the periphery of the disc A, and the device. can then be packed in a small box of circular shape, or a numberof such devices can be stacked in a column of substantially cylindrical form.

It will be observed that in all the; examples described the arms: are adjustable. not only in the direction of their length but also angularly relation to the body of the device, so that single sole straightener can be. fitted toianyof a. number of soles of greatly difierent sizes, the stowing of the sole straighteners in a, small space is facilitated by the method of attachment of the arms described.

' While I have herein described and illustrated examples of construction whereby all the aforesaid objects of the invention canbe accomplished, it is obvious. that various changes could be made in the shapes; of the parts of the device without departing from the principle of the invention, and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to-theexact constructions shown, but includes any variations that may fairly fall within the scope of the followi-ngclaims.

What I claim and desire to. secure by Letters Patentof. the United States is::-

1. In a sole straightener, a metal body adapted to be attached outside the sole, means at one end of said body to engage over the front of the sole, a stud at the other end of said body, a plurality of longitudinally slotted arms embracing said stud and each adapted to swing on said stud into aposition transverse to said body, said arms also being adapted to be collapsed into positions in alignment with each other and with said body and each of said-armsbeing-provided with means to engage the edges of the sole.

2. In a sole straightener, a metal body adapted to be attached outside the sole, means at one end of said body to engage over. the front of the sole, said body horin at its other end a crossbar, two studs in crossbar, two longitudinally slotted arm each pivotally and reciprocablyengaging one of said studs, said arms; being provided with means to engage. the edges of the sole.

3. In a sole straightener, a eurved body. of spring metal adapted tobe attached outside the sole, the front end of? which body is turned up to form an arcuate; wall and: reverted flange, the rear endof said body be.- ing perforated with holes, a stud adaptedtn be secured in any one of said holes and longitudinally slotted arms pivotally and reciprocably engaging said stud, each of said arms being provided. with means to engage the sole at one side thereof.. i

In a sole straightener, a-sulstantially circular metal body adapted to be attache! outside the sole and provided. with three arms longitudinally and angwlarly adjustable in relation to said body, said arms'being provided with means to engage the edges of the sole and being bent'in such manner as to exert a resilient pressure on the sole;

, 5.. In a sole straightener, a metalbody adapted to be attached outside the'sole, a pin on said body, aplurality of longitudinally slotted arms: each provided at its" outer end with means to engage the sale, each at said arms engaging said pin in such: manner as to be pivotable aroundsaidpin andito be adjustable longitudinally on saidtpin. ALISTER DUNCAN HACGILLWMY. 

